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The hybrid HDD/SSD is normally configured using IRST to maintain a paging file on the SSD chip. Users who have turned off IRST and reinstalled report no performance difference.

Once you turn of IRST you may see the SSD chip show up on the drive selection screen during install. You would want to ignore it - although if its sizable enough we have had users format and install Win7 to it successfully.

If you try this while keeping the old install onboard you can assure it resolves the BSOD's while comparing performance to the old install. If you want to reinstall again using IRST with the chip then you can even try that.

In some cases bad boot code on a HD can cause issues only resolved by moving data off to wipe the HDD with Diskpart Clean Command. However that can be held in mind only as a last resort if the reinstall(s) don't solve the problem.

Here's the Disk Management screenshot.

I spent yesterday prepping for the clean install. I noticed that my BIOS is version A06, but DELL has A13 available? I guess Windows Update doesn't cover BIOS. Tried to install in Safe Mode but I got an error message saying "unable to load driver" and decided to quit.

If BIOS is not really an issue (it is not in your case), better leave it. BIOS updating is a risky operation in most of th cases and if you dont have the experience about it, it will not be good. Moreover, any interruption in the process may make the motherboard totally inaccessible.

Before shrinking C I would uninstall any programs you don't use, clean up and organize your files into User folders which you can just drag to the new data partition. Confirm twice that all of your data is there.

Then I would boot into installer using Dell F12 key at boot, during booted Custom install following the illustrated steps in Clean Install Windows 7 . During Steps 7 and 8 highlight to Delete the Recovery (which will not run after reinstall) and C partitions only. Keep telling yourself you will not touch the Data partition to avoid a mistake. Then highlight the Unallocated space you have made from Recovery and C . Create and Format a New partition there only, click Next to begin install.

Be sure to have your wireless driver on a CD, stick or stored on the data partition downloaded from the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your tag number so if its not provided during install you can install it to get online, enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) then run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates. After each requested reboot go back to Check for more Updates until there are no more. You can be setting up your desktop and browser while these are running, maybe installing some programs though I would spread those out to see if any affect performance.

If you prefer you can leave IRST enabled for this install to see if it is the cause of the BSOD's and retail the SSD chip paging cache. The reinstall may resolve the issue, but if not then you'll know to disable IRST to reinstall again.

I'm sorry to say I'm confused about my hard drives. I thought I had two physical hard drives, the first a normal 500GB HDD and the second a 32GB SSD. But apparently the SSD is only a chip and I have only one drive? So I can defrag my C: like a HDD? I may be just making this harder than it is but I'd rather not make mistakes. Anna

It is a bit confusing but generally that configuration is a HD with a chip on the mobo or HD used for paging file, although we've helped several (who insisted) actually install Win7 on the chip, which shows up to format once you unRAID it by turning off IRST in BIOS.

I think you bring up a good reservation about defragging SSD so see how much C shrinkage Disk Mgmt will give you without it, then if necessary run PW CD which will always be able to shrink as much as you're owed.

Random & frequent BSOD from IASTOR.SYS

Frequent random BSODHi, I've been suffering random BSOD for ages now and have found no rhyme or reason as to when or why they occurr.
I would be very grateful if someone could look through the dump files and point me in the right direction.

BSOD Help and Support

Random and frequent BSOD*Edit* I forgot to mention I use 7zip.
Hello,
I have had random and frequent BSOD's for the past couple of months. When I try to zip the mini dump files to upload for debugging I get a Warning: Access is denied error message. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

BSOD Help and Support

BSOD random intervals, STOP error 0x0000007E, iaStor.sysThis problem has been occurring off and on for about 3 weeks now. Sometimes when playing a game, sometimes surfin the web and once when i left it idle on the login screen.
This is the information from the last BSOD:
STOP: 0x0000007E (0xFFFFFFFFC0000005, 0xFFFFF880012696B0, 0xFFFFF88003BB7798,...

BSOD Help and Support

Random BSOD, iastor.sys related - error code d1Hi all,
A couple of days ago my laptop started randomly BSODing every so often, sometimes as close as 5 minutes apart, but sometimes it stays on for a few hours.
This happens while playing games, browsing websites or even when just leaving the computer alone, I really can't see a pattern. ...

BSOD Help and Support

BSOD @ Random occasions ntoskrnl.exe + iastor.sysHello, :)
I recently build a new system and the following problems occur since this system was build. The only parts that i have not replaced are the ocz SSD PCIE and the other harddrives. (you can find my new specs in my profile)
Im having trouble with BSOD's randomly like once or twice a...

BSOD Help and Support

Frequent Random BSODHi,
I'm Andy, I'm new to the forum and hoping somebody would be able to help me diagnose my problem before I finish pulling all my hair out lol.
I have a Dell dimension 9200 pc which I've had 2-3 years with no probs.
About 2 weeks ago I decided to upgrade to windows 7 ultimate 32bit, my...